Antirattle dovetail for doors



Nov. 22, 1932. G. w. KERR ANTIRATTLE DOVETAIL FOR moon's Fil ed Jan. 5. 1951 IN VEN TOR. EIEUREE N. KERR ATTORNEY llllliii" Patented Nov. 22, 1932 GEORGE W. KERR, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS ANTIRATTLE DOVETAIL FOR DOORS Application filed January 5, 1931.

The present invention relates to anti-rattle dovetails, particularly for automobile doors, and has for an object to provide a device of this character which will prevent the rattle 5 usually resulting from the vibration and weaving of the doors, effectually retaining the same against vertical vibration, while at the same time compensating for lateral movement and wear, and which will furthermore definitely position the door with respect to the door frame, so that upon closing the door it will be positioned and maintained in a predetermined relation vertically of the frame.

The device is especially desirable for heavy duty use, as with automobiles having very heavy doors and which tend to sag.

With the above and other objects in view embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, and these embodiments will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

25 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the outer side of a metal door frame post with a dovetail device socket, according to one embodiment of my invention, attached interiorly thereto.

" Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the end of the door, showing the wedge member mounted thereon, the same being shown at an angle of 90 from its position of engagement with the socket shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the wedge member.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the socket member before attachment to the door 40 frame post.

Fig. 6 is an outer edge view.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the device, attached to the door frame post and showing the wedge member in full lines in its initial 45 engaging position, and showing the wedge member in dot and dash lines in its fully engaged position.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a modified form of casing for attachment eXteriorly in a socket in the door frame.

Serial No. 506,674.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View thereof, taken through the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the device, according to the present embodiment of the in vention, comprises a socket element formed from sheet metal including a rectangular portion 10 having upper and lower wall flanges ll? 11, 11 bent from its upper and lower edges and a rear wall flange 12 bent from its rear edge. Continuations of the flanges 11-11 are bent outwardly as at 13-13 in the forward plane of the socket and then rearwardly, as L; at I l-14, and then are bent outwardly in the form of attaching ears 1515, having edge flanges 16-16 bent forwardly therefrom with their edges in the forward plane of the socket. Threaded bosses 1717 are secured in D the ears 1515 for engagement of the attaching screws 18-18 engaged through the metal door frame post 19, as shown in Figs.

1 and 7.

The metal post 19 is bent along a vertical 7 line to form a right angular corner, and is bent outwardly as at 20 to form a lip, which, as shown, is flush with the portion 10 of the socket. A rearwa-rdly converging opening 21 is out in the corner of the post forming an entrance to the socket, the forward portion of this opening having its upper and lower edges disposed in parallel relation. The end edges of the opening are vertically disposed, the forward end edge being flush with the lip 20.

A pair of opposed block members 22 of generally rectangular shape are disposed within the socket casing, these blocks having fiat parallel faces 23 adjacent their inner ends in spaced relation with each other, and having sliding engagement with a boss or rib 24 pressed up from the casing portion 10, and cooperating with the upper and lower parallel walls of the casing to maintain the spaced relation of the blocks and prevent their vertical displacement. Inclined slightly arcuate faces 25 extend from the flat faces 23 to the forward ends of the blocks in diverging relation to each other. Pockets 26 1G 7 her, while the inclination of t are provided in the rear walls of the blocks Within which are engaged coil springs 27 pcsitioned upon lugs 28 struck inwardly from the rear wall 12 of the cas and which press the blocks forwardly in the casing, While permitting them to be forced laterally inwardly, as shown by the dot-and-dash lines Fig. 7.

The block members are adapted to be assembled and held in the casing before the latter is assembled to the post, and for this purpose lugs 29 are formed upon the forward edges of the upper and lower wall flanges 11, being bent inwardly so that their for: r surfaces are flush with the forward edge of the casing. In the forward ends of the block members there are provided pockets 30 of corresponding depth to the metal thickness of the lugs 29, and within which the latter engage with the forward end surfaces of the blocks in flush relation with the forward edges of the casing. The engagement of the lugs 29 in the pockets 30 not only retains the blocks against the outward pressure of the spring, but so interlock Wlifl. the pockets as to prevent displacement through the open side of the casing, thus permitting the casing with the assembled blocks to be handled and shipped in quantities without danger of the blocks becoming displaced.

The wedge member comprises an attaching base 31, and a rigid wedge projection 32, having flat inclined sides 33 substan 'ally corresponding to the inclination of the faces 25 of the blocks 22. A. proj cting nose portion 34; is provided at the entering en d of the wedge and has parallel upper and lower faces 35 adapted to enter between the flat parallel faces 23 of the blocks 22, shown in Fig. 7. The under side of the projecting nose is undercut, as at 36, so that in the fully engaged position it will pass within the socket beyond the end of the opening 21, and as indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 7.

The operation is as follows:

When the door is in open position the blocks 22 are projected forwardly as indicated in Fig. 1. As the door closed the wedge member enters between the blocks the projecting nose 34L first engaging between the flat parallel surfaces 23 of the blocks and definitely positioning the door vertically of the door frame. The inclined surfaces 83 thereupon engage the inclined surfaces of the blocks before the door is closed, the CO1 closure of the door causing the blocks moved laterally against pressure of L116 springs 27 which hold the inclined surfaces of the blocks snugly against the "edge memhe engaging surfaces is such that vertical pressure will not displace the blocks and cause vibration.

In the closed position indicated in dot-anddash lines in Fig. 7 the nose 34: engaged between the parallel faces 23 of the block incinincense bers positively supports and maintains the door in a definite position vertically of the do or frame.

The door is provided with the usual latch, not shown, which engages behind a striker on the door frame, and the present device is such that it permits the door to close suffieiently to allow the latch to operate, and thereupon exerts an outward pressure on the door to force the latch bolt tightly against the striker. Upon release of the latch the device exerts an opening pressure on the door.

In Fig. 8 and 9 l have shown a modified form of socket casing for attachment exteriorly to a socketed door frame post. The walls 11 have ears 36 bent outwardly therefrom, and which are spot-welded or otherwise suitably secured to a cover plate 37. Countersunl; screw-holes 38 are provided in the cover plate and the ears 86 are out out, as t 39, to clear the counter sinks at the under he. The plate is provided with a rim flange its upper and lower and rear edges, and its forward edge is provided with a flange to close the forward side of the casing,'a d2 bent outwardly from theflange in flush relation with the portion 10 of the An opening 43, similar to the open- 21 of the post 19, is provided in the cover pate and flange ll. Obviously the blocks 22 and springs 2'? are adapted to be arranged in this casing in a'similar manner to the first embodiment, and they operate in the same way.

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiments of the invention, but it will be obvious that changes may be made therein within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an anti-rattle device for doors, members movable one relatively to the other, said members having converging contact surfaces for contacting one with the other and the contact surface of one of saidmembers being formed on a part that is yieldable in the direction of relative movement of said members, and means in association with said members and movable with said members into relation with'each other having cooperating parallel abutment surfaces offering abutment transversely to said direction of relative movement of said members.

2. ln an anti-rattle device for doors, a socket member, and a wedge member adapted to be engaged therewith, one of said members comprising opposed elements adapted to be moved laterally through engagement of the other member therewith, resilient means adapted to oppose said lateral movement, means adapted to prevent vertical movement of said elements, means in association with one of said members having vertically opposed abutment surfaces, and means in association with the other of said members having vertically opposed abutment surfaces adapted in the engaged position of said mem-' bers to cooperate with said other abutment surfaces to position the door vertically.

3. In anti-rattle device for doors, members movable one relatively to the other, said members having converging contact surfaces for contacting one with the other and the contact surface of one of said members being formed on a part that is yieldable in the direction of relative movement of said members but non-yielding in a direction transversely thereto, and means in association with said members and movable with said members into relation with each other having cooperating non-camming abutment surfaces offering abutment against movement in opposite directions transversely to said direction of relative movement of said members.

4-. In an anti-rattle device for doors, mem bers movable one relatively to the other, said members having converging contact surfaces for contacting one with the other and the contact surface of one of said members being formed on part that is yieldable in the di rection of relative movement of said members, and means in association with said members and movable with said members into relation with each other having cooperating abutment surfaces offering abutment against movement in opposite directions transversely to said direction of relative movement of said members, said means being engageable with each other in advance of the engagement of said contact surfaces of said members whereby said means are positioned in a given position transversely of said direction of relative movement of said members.

5. In an anti-rattle device for doors, a socket member, and a wedge member adapted to be engaged therewith, said socket member comprising opposed wedge engaging elements adapted to be moved laterally through engagement of said wedge member therebetween, resilient means adapted to oppose said lateral movement, means adapted to prevent vertical movement of said wedge engaging element-s, means in association with said socket member having vertically opposed abutment surfaces, and means in association with said wedge member having vertically opposed abutment surfaces adapted in the engaged position of said wedge to cooperate with said other abutment surfaces to position the door vertically.

6. In an anti-rattle device for doors, a socket member, and a wedge member adapted to be engaged therewith, said socket member comprising opposed wedge engaging elements presenting a tapered recess therebetween adapted to be moved laterally through engagement of said wedge member therebetween, resilient means adapted to oppose said lateral movement, means adapted to prevent vertical movement of said wedge engaging elements, said wedge engaging elements including spaced vertically opposed abutment surfaces extending inwardly from said tapered recess, said wedge member having tapered surfaces for engagement in said tapered recess, and projecting means extending from the converged ends of said tapered surfaces adapted to enter between said spaced abutment surfaces to position the door vertically.

7. In an anti-rattle device for doors, members movable one relatively to the other, said members having converging contact surfaces for contacting one with the other and the contact surface of one of said members being formed on a part that is yieldable in the direction of relative movement of said members, and means in association with said members and movable with said members into relation with each other having cooperating abutment surfaces offering abutment transversely to said direction of relative movement of said members, said means being guided into engagen'ient by cooperation with the contact surface of one of said members in advance of the engagement of said contacting surfaces of said members with each other whereby said means and said members are positioned in a given position transversely of said direction of relative movement of said members.

Signed at St. Petersburg, county of Pinellas and State of Florida, this 26 day of December, 1930.

GEORGE W. KERR. 

